Escape from Phuket and Phang Nga Bay

Do you have a brochure on the "Tattoo Parlor Tours?"

Refueling Stop

Hellloooo, and welcome back.  Pack up your kayaking gear, kids, because today we are headed on a kayaking trip to the world-renowned Phang Nga Bay.  As an introduction, while Phuket offers many of the benefits and wonders of a Southeast Asia beach destination (tailor shops, "I Pooed" t-shirts, girl bars and street markets), much of the fun of southern Thailand is on the water.

A caveat of travel is that any adventure trip, be it multi-sport, kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, or purse shopping in Hong Kong, will involve a long, long mini-bus ride with a bunch of people you don't know. The wonder and magic of travel is that by the end of the ride, everyone in the group will be dirty, wet, sunburned, dehydrated and will still be strangers. However, everyone tells some spectacular lies in the freedom of knowing you will never, ever, see each other again.

You should know that the YRC staff occasionally  introduce ourselves as Canadian.  We have many Canadian friends and they don't seem to mind that we have moved in with them.  Most people like Canadians.   American foreign policy, (whether you agree with it or not), tends to cast a long, chilly shadow in certain parts of the world.  Being Canadian just makes it easier to remain...sociable.

The Kayaking Route

We were therefore startled and thrown off track when the couple with us in the mini-bus introduced themselves as Canadians, (The dreaded Vancouver Gambit).  We fell into disarray and confusion.   We quickly learned that she was Canadian of Dutch origin and he was Canadian of Icelandic origin.  We shared that we were American, reviewed the Canadian victories during the War of 1812, and left it at that.

On to the journey.  The staff of the YRC is of the opinion that sea kayaking is one of the truly great sports.  It is right up there with mountain biking with no brakes and nude cave tubing.  As it turns out, Phang Nga Bay is one of the most transcendent sea kayaking destinations.

Outbound by cave from Hong.  And, the bats are fruit bats, not blood bats.  Serious.

The YRC staff was bound for Phang Nga Bay for night sea kayaking, exploring several cave/hong systems, and a Kratong launch.  Hongs are circular karst formations that have an open middle, sort of like a volcanic cheerio.   The central area is reached by kayaking through caves that are open at low tide.  There was wildlife aplenty,  turquoise waters, ambient temperatures, peaceful paddling and the YRC staff was startled to find that we were experiencing a strange but rare travel experience.

Phang Nga Bay

Let me preface this experience with the statement that, as the loyal readers of the YRC may know, The YRC staff have had a...um...diverse...um series....of adventures...usually involving some sort of loss of skin, dignity, bodily fluids, credibility, patience, currency or time.  When we travel, we are now generally prepared for the worse....we carry five or six currencies, two medical kits and large amounts of chocolate.  We have maps and cellphones.   We have multiple redundant security checks and code words.  We are equipped like the NAVY SEALS, people.  However...we were totally unprepared for what was to happen.

Our Kratong was the BEST Kratong...

Here's what happened:

The two buffet meals were good and no one elbowed anyone out of the way in line.  The food was fresh and there was plenty to go around.

The guides were pleasant, informative, and went swimming around the boat during the "free kayak time".  They seemed to be relaxed and playful.  They knew quite a bit about the area and wildlife and were willing to share it.

The Kratong launch went on schedule in luminescent waters and the group was actually silent during the ceremony.

As the evening progressed, The YRC staff became aware that everyone on the trip...was having a good time.  It was a very unfamiliar sensation, but we are pleased to report, there was only one small injury and it was not a member of the YRC staff.   As the saying goes, "and a good time was had by all."  On that cheerful note, see ya next week!